Virginia Stage Company is thrilled to announce a new season of musicals, thrillers, classics and a world premiere! The 47th season from Hampton Roads’ leading professional theatre company begins in September at the historic Wells Theatre in Norfolk.
Ain’t Misbehavin’
the “fats” waller musical show
Created and Originally Directed by Richard Maltby, JR
The Joint is Jumpin’! We kick the season off with a bang with Norfolk State University Theatre Company's All-New Professional Series with our co-production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. This Tony Award-winning musical showcases the infectious energy and masterful stylings of legendary jazz musician, Thomas “Fats” Waller. Five actors croon, wail, strut, and dance their way through the songs that made Waller a household name, including “The Joint is Jumpin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” and more.
Directed by Professor Anthony Mark Stockard. September 3 - 21, 2025.
Emma
by Kate Hamill
Based on the novel by Jane Austen
Emma Woodhouse is clever, educated, and energetic… and about to go mad with idleness. In a time when respectable ladies are expected to sit quietly at home, Emma desperately longs for projects—and prides herself on matchmaking, much to the chagrin of her friend Mr. Knightley. But where Emma’s considerable energies focus, screwball comedy follows! A fresh and funny new take on a treasured classic.
Directed by Tom Quaintance. October 22 - November 9, 2025.
Wait Until Dark
By Frederick Knott
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
In a 1944 Greenwich Village apartment, a blind woman is threatened by criminals in search of a doll stuffed with smuggled heroin. As the climax builds, Susan discovers that her blindness just might be the key to her escape, IF she can manage to stall her tormentors until dark. This masterfully constructed thriller moves from one moment of suspense to another as it builds toward a heart-stopping finale.
Directed by Mark Shanahan. January 28 - February 15, 2026
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Lyrics by Tim Rice and Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
This beloved musical reimagines the Biblical story of Joseph, a magical tale packed with adventures, beguiling characters (like the Elvis-inspired Pharoah), and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s brilliant score, full of catchy songs from country-western (“One More Angel in Heaven”) to Caribbean (“Benjamin Calypso”), along with the unforgettable classics “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door.”
Directed and Choreographed by Billy Bustamante. March 11 - 29, 2026.
Malcolm X & Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy's Chicken Shack in Harlem
by Jonathan Norton
CO-WORLD PREMIERE
1943. Two young Harlemites form a friendship over leftover fried chicken and dirty dishwater. But a long, hot summer of heartbreak, betrayal, and racial uprisings moves them closer to the men they will become and farther from each other. This electrifying world premiere blends sharp humor with raw humanity, revealing the laughter, struggle, and brotherhood that shaped two legends.
Directed by Dexter J. Singleton. April 8 - 26, 2026
Don’t miss out on our Season Extras!
As a Fixed Subscriber you can lock in your seats now
for these holiday classic season extras!
A Sherlock Carol
by Mark Shanahan
The merry, mysterious hit returns! In Mark Shanahan’s joyful and clever play, Moriarty is dead, and Sherlock is a haunted man. But when a grown Tiny Tim comes knocking on Sherlock’s door asking for an investigation into the untimely death of Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, the Great Detective must use his gifts to solve a Dickens of a Christmas case!
Directed by Steve Pacek. December 4-28, 2025
A Merry Little Christmas Carol
by Mark Shanahan
Adapted from the novella by Charles Dickens
Hampton Roads’ most heartfelt holiday celebration! Come along with this charming ensemble as they follow the story of Scrooge's life, accompanied by the Christmas spirits of past, present, and future, to find the real Christmas spirit that he’s always been missing…his own.
Directed by Jordan Setzer. December 3-23, 2025
